Brian Moffett has Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS, and Lou Gehrig’s disease. It will eventually destroy his nervous system and muscles. There’s no cure.

“My hand is starting to curl up. I can’t scratch myself. I can’t put my glasses on,” Moffett said.

Moffett, 66, is a father and a retired track worker for the MTA.

What You Need To Know

  • Brian Moffett has Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis also known as ALS, and Lou Gehrig’s disease

  • Moffett was diagnosed two and a half months ago. He is aware he will die. The pain and suffering is why he says he wants to end his own life

  • Assemblymember Amanda Septimo and Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton are co-sponsoring a bill which would allow a terminally ill patient to request medicinal aid in death

  • The Medical Aid in Dying bill was first introduced in the New York State Legislature in 2015. Legislative experts say passing the bill before the scheduled end of the legislative session is a long shot

“I stayed busy with my place upstate and commuting back and forth to Staten Island to help out people,” he said.

Moffett was diagnosed two and a half months ago. He is aware he will die. The pain and suffering is why he says he wants to end his own life.

“There’s laws in other states that allow you to medically die. I want them to pass this law, so that I can do this because my suffering is not worth living,” he said.

Moffet said he doesn’t have the physical ability to end his own life, and that’s why he needs help.

Assemblymember Amanda Septimo and Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton are co-sponsoring a bill which would allow a terminally ill patient to request medicinal aid in death.

“I think it’s really important to give people peace at the end of their life, especially if they’re suffering,” Scarcella-Spanton said.

The Medical Aid in Dying bill was first introduced in the New York State Legislature in 2015. Legislative experts say passing the bill before the scheduled end of the legislative session is a long shot. Since then, the bill has received criticism.

In a statement, the executive director for the New York State Catholic Conference wrote, “We have seen the slippery slope in the places where this has been legalized, most notably Canada, which has already expanded it once to include people with chronic but non-terminal illnesses. Our state should send a consistent message that suicide is never the answer.”

Moffett said he wishes those who opposed medically aided death would understand the suffering of New Yorkers, like him.

“As far as dying legally, I accept it right now because my suffering is hard,” he said.

The bill is currently on committees. The legislative session adjourns on Thursday.